How I Used AI to Understand the Strengths and Opportunities of My Team (Without Losing the Human Element)

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Like many leaders, I’ve sat through team calibration meetings, performance reviews, and one-on-ones wondering the same thing: Am I seeing the full picture of what this team can really do?

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Even with experience, gut instincts, and performance metrics, there’s always that lingering uncertainty — Am I missing something?

This year, I decided to bring AI into the equation. Not to replace my judgment — but to sharpen it. And the results? Eye-opening.

Here’s how I used AI to better understand my team’s strengths, identify growth opportunities, and ultimately lead with more clarity and purpose.

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1. Finding Patterns Hidden in Plain Sight

I started by feeding anonymized performance summaries, project debriefs, and 360-degree feedback into an AI tool. The goal wasn’t automation — it was synthesis.

AI helped surface recurring phrases like:

• “Takes initiative without being asked”

• “Needs more clarity when priorities shift”